Start telling your boat's story.

Did you build your boat from the ground up? Sail on her as a child before being reunited years later as an adult? Your wooden boat has a story, and the Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival is the place to tell it. Keep reading to find out how you can exhibit your boat in the next Festival. Your application process starts here.

Returning boaters—please note that our application process has changed for 2024. Review the "How do I apply?" section below to learn more.

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When and where is the Wooden Boat Festival?

Port Townsend, Washington
September 6-8, 2024
Historic Point Hudson Marina
The year-round home of the Wooden Boat Festival since 1977.

How do I apply?

Read all of the information on this page.
Complete the entire application—linked at the bottom once live—including waivers.
Pay the fee. Note: This does not mean you have been accepted into Festival.
If you are not accepted, you will be sent an email notification and refunded your fee promptly.
If you are accepted, you will be sent an email notification that you have been accepted with more information about participating in Wooden Boat Festival.
You will receive periodic emails letting you know where you are in the registration process.
You will receive periodic emails letting you know where you are in the registration process
In Mid-August, you will receive arrival information from the Harbormaster.

Cost: Boats in the Water

LOA	Passes	Cost
<13′	1	$100
13’–19′	2	$125
20’–30′	2	$155
31’–45′	2	$175
46’–59′	4	$225
60’–80′	5	$240
81′+	6	$265

Cost: Boats on Land

Includes 2 beer tickets

LOA	Passes	Cost
<13′	1	$80
13’–19′	1	$105
20’–30′	1	$120
31’–45′	1	$140

Frequently Asked Questions

We wish that we could accept all wooden boats into the Festival, but due to space constraints we cannot. We squeeze as many boats as possible into Point Hudson… with the help of CAD programs and mad geniuses behind the scenes… no matter how creative they are, we can only fit what we can fit. Early application gives you the best possible chance of being accepted if your boat is a good fit for our Festival.

Boats are considered a good fit according to several parameters, not in any particular order:

Interesting history or story behind boat
Variety: we are always searching for nice variety of boats
Years and history in festival—beloved regulars
New boats: new to the area, the festival, or new builds!
Historical significance
Boat size
Safe to have in harbor and in Festival

Other things we find interesting:

Something new
Old favorite that has been in many years
Local refit
Recent refit
School ships
Condition of vessel

Boats arrive Thursday, the week of Festival.
Accepted boats will be contacted mid August with general information from the festival office. Then 2 weeks before Festival you will hear from the Harbormasters with more information. You will be given a time slot for arrival, and directions on how to check in with the harbormaster team, etc. In general, boats arrive starting at noon on Thursday. If you want to come to Port Townsend early, please call Point Hudson Marina and make arrangements with them for early arrival. They will try to place you for an easy move Thursday. In some cases, very large boats will need to arrive Wednesday night.

Point Hudson Marina: (360) 385-2828 or pointhudson@portofpt.com

They spend months planning how to get all these beautiful boats in and out of the harbor safely—for the boats, and for the people on board. They have grace and humor, but don't take the job lightly. Know that following their directions is absolutely imperative. They're spinning boats, backing boats, rafting boats and bringing in ones as big as 137 feet. Their system of timing your arrival and entrance into the harbor is pretty slick, if everyone follows the system. If you don’t, it can get ugly. No one wants ugly. And you can't go sailing every day. This is a festival, and people come to see you and your beloved boat. It's also part of the agreement of coming to the Festival: you are agreeing to be open for public from 9 to 6 daily. Please help our efforts to keep this a safe, fun, weekend, and listen to the harbormaster!

Help us keep our waters pristine and minimize our impact on the environment! We are very proud of our recycling and composting programs, and we ask that you please do your part in helping us run an environmentally-conscious festival. Please utilize the recycle bins and composting bins, and do not use the trash bins at the end of the docks for your boat's trash; There are large dumpsters in the 'Back 40' for you. Learn what we are doing to achieve a green Festival.

You can't. This is a festival, not a sail fest. You may get locked into a spot, but people really want to see you and your boat, and your neighbors are going to be super nice. That's why they all come! If you want to race, mark it on the application.

The 3 races during the weekend are:
#1. Boats 26' and under.
#2. Human-powered-row-paddle
#3. Schooners Race.
Check in with harbormasters before leaving the dock.

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Keep Our Sea Plastic Free! We’re going all in on our environmental sustainability efforts for the future of our oceans and the wildlife that depends on them. We have joined Sailors for the Sea and are seeking Platinum Certification in its clean regatta program! You can become a green boater with Sailors for the Sea at no cost learn more.